NEW DELHI, May 31:
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur today asked protesting wrestlers not to take any step that could undermine sports or hurt players and said appropriate action will be taken once the probe into their allegations is completed, a day after the grapplers threatened to immerse their medals in river Ganga.
He also said that Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will hold elections and a new body will be elected soon.
The WFI president has stepped aside and the WFI is not taking any decision. The committee of administrators set up by the Indian Olympic Association is taking everyday decisions, Thakur said.
The ,inister urged the wrestlers to be patient and have faith in the Supreme Court, the Sports Ministry and Delhi police, which is investigating allegations against the WFI’s former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
“I urge the wrestlers to be patient till the outcome of the investigation. I also urge them not to take any step that could undermine sports or hurt any sportsperson,” the Minister said while replying to queries from reporters.
He stressed that his ministry had acted promptly on the wrestlers’ complaint and appropriate action would be taken once the probe is completed.
Thakur also listed steps taken by the Government to “fulfil the hopes of players and help strengthen sports in the country”.
The Minister’s remarks come a day after the country’s top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, along with hundreds of their supporters, reached Har ki Pauri to immerse their medals in the river Ganga but were persuaded by Khap and farmer leaders not to do so.
The wrestlers are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who is accused of sexually harassing several women grapplers.
Thakur said that after some wrestlers complained, a committee was immediately formed in consultation with them to look into the issue.
Members were added following the wrestlers’ request for an impartial probe. The committee gave its report and an FIR was registered after they went to the Supreme Court, which asked them to go to the magistrate, he said.
“Whatever they said, we did not leave any stone unturned, but the goalpost was changed and new goalposts were made. We heard them with an open mind,” the Minister said. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
